Spring game rained out, but Virginia Tech picks up key commitments

Norm Wood, nwood@dailypress.com | 757-247-4642

BLACKSBURG — Sitting on the podium Saturday in Virginia Tech's postgame media room, quarterback Logan Thomas had a chance to reflect on a spring in which he played part traffic cop, part on-field tutor and part-motivational speaker.

One topic he didn't discuss was how he performed in the spring game, because the game didn't exist.

The game was canceled due to thunderstorms, bringing Tech's spring practices to an anticlimactic conclusion. It didn't stop Tech from picking up at least six commitments Saturday for the recruiting classes of 2013 and '14, including coveted quarterback Bucky Hodges from Salem High in Virginia Beach and offensive tackle Parker Osterloh from Warhill High.

With Tech doing some serious tinkering on the offensive side of the ball, Thomas made his own evaluations of the Hokies' progress.

"I'd say it was a success," said Thomas of Tech's spring. "We changed up some things. We did it with a little bit faster pace, so it's going to take an adjustment for the guys that have been here for a while and were used to what we were doing."

For the first time since 2007 when former Tech quarterback Tyrod Taylor was a freshman, Tech worked this spring with a pistol formation. Tech, which primarily utilized a pro style scheme in Bryan Stinespring's first 10 seasons as offensive coordiantor, also unveiled some spread offense elements.

Cornerback Antone Exum said the offense showed more motion in the spring, more tailbacks coming out of the backfield in the passing game and more use of the tight end in the passing game.

"It's good for (the defense) because we get to see all of these looks," Exum said. "Some of the looks that they were giving us we probably won't see until we play maybe Miami or maybe Clemson or something like that with the motion and things like that."

While it remains to be seen how much of the offensive experimentation actually makes it to the field this fall, Tech coach Frank Beamer is comfortable with what Thomas is capable of doing in the offense.

"We've done some things here with our offense. There's a lot of stuff going on before that ball is snapped, and he's the one that's kind of got to be in charge of it all. I think he's done a good job of that for the most part."

Thomas spent some of the spring making sure an offense that will feature four new starting offfensive linemen, two new starting wide receivers, a new starting tight end and a starting tailback that will likely be a first-year player was all on the same page. He reminded players in the huddle where they needed to be in formations, encouraged teammates and critiqued them when he needed to do so.

"He brings a lot," said Tech redshirt freshman running back Michael Holmes of Thomas. "He brings a captain (role). He brings hard work. He brings us together...He doesn't come in there yelling. He comes in there with calm. He just tries to help us as a whole team."

Thomas, who will be entering his junior season, said he'll spend the summer working on improving his accuracy, footwork and consistency. Though Tech still has some time to ponder who Thomas' ultimate replacement will be, the Hokies may have found the heir apparent.

Hodges, a 6-foot-5, 215-pound quarterback, is considered by most recruiting analysts to be among the nation's top 45 quarterback prospects. He also had scholarship offers from Virginia, Ohio State, West Virginia, Connecticut, East Carolina, Wake Forest, Illinois, Maryland and James Madison.

In addition to Hodges and Osterloh, Tech got '13 class pledges from cornerback Charles Clark of King's Fork High in Suffolk, linebacker Andrew Motuapuaka from Salem High in Virginia Beach and offensive tackle Braxton Pfaff from Liberty Christian Academy in Lynchburg.

Tech has nine commitments for the '13 class. Feb. 6 will be the first day recruits can sign a letter of intent.

Defensive lineman Vincent Mihota from Massaponnax High in Fredericksburg committed for the '14 class commitment. He's the brother of former U.Va. center Anthony Mihota.

"I think we had a good day recruiting-wise," said Beamer, who per NCAA rules isn't permitted to discuss specific high school players until they sign a letter of intent. "I think it would've been even better if they'd seen that stadium with 40,000 people in there for a spring game."